Author's note: So this is it folks, the final chapter. It feels right to me to leave this particular story here, though no doubt this pretty pair will pop up in other stories in the future.
Thank you as always to the ladies of the Writers Block Party for inspiration, encouragement and support; to the serviceman in my life for tolerating me criticising the service in this story (just a little bit) and picking his brain about military matters; and to everyone reading, reviewing, following and favouriting - it's appreciated more than you know.
Chapter 21 - Always
In the early hours of the morning, Wolf lay facing Hope in bed, watching the way the moonlight from the open window played on her face as she smiled at him, a smile full of love and satisfaction.
"What are you looking at?" She asked softly.
"You." He reached out and stroked her cheek, and she turned her head slightly, planting a kiss in his palm. "I'll buy you a ring tomorrow." He told her.
She kissed his palm again, "I don't need a fancy ring, Mister Wolf. I've got the man, that's enough."
"Maybe I want to give you a fancy ring." He tried.
"I'll just take the wedding ring," She leaned in and kissed him, "Soon as you want to put that on my finger."
"Better start planning the wedding then." He watched carefully for her reaction, sensing a strange kind of reluctance.
"About that..." She shifted a little closer, her body meeting his, and her teeth biting her lower lip, "You were married, before. What was your wedding like?"
"Quick." He said honestly. "I copped a ton of shit from my mum because it was all last minute before deployment. I mean, everyone was there, but it was just a quick ceremony and then the pub after." He found himself smiling at the memory of his mother's reaction, "She told me she'd had our weddings planned out since birth, and I was ruining it. There was supposed to be a whole lot more fuss. She wasn't too keen on the girl, either; guess she was right about that."
Hope smiled a little, but there was something in her eyes that made him pull her closer still. "My momma had my wedding all planned out too. Where I was the only girl, you know? My brothers would walk me down the aisle all together, there'd be a string quartet and flowers everywhere and a big white dress - whether I wanted one or not." She pressed her face into his chest, muffling her next words as her voice broke, "How do we get married without them?"
He stroked her back, a little at a loss for what to say, pain of his own stitching through his chest. "Maybe on our own?" He suggested finally. "Just you and me? We can have a party after if you want, but how about we just say the words to each other in front of a judge, and then get on with being married?" He kissed her hair, "Then we can make a new family of our own."
She was so still in his arms that for a second he thought he'd blown it, but then she raised her face and kissed him with sudden passion, and he could taste the salt from her tears on her lips, even as he felt the heat of her body pressing into his.
He kissed her right back, holding her as close as he could, his arms locked tight around her, her soft naked skin still a little slick with sweat from their earlier lovemaking. She pulled at his shoulders, encouraging him to move over her, wrapping her legs around him as he did so.
"Hope," He murmured, "Slow done babe, it's okay."
She drew back just a little to look at him, and his heart lurched.
"It's okay," He said again, "It's all going to be okay."
She nodded slowly, unwrapping her legs from around his waist, and as he bent his head to kiss her, it was soft and slow.
"I love you," He murmured, "We're going to have the best life, I promise."
"I promise you too. I love you Mister Wolf, always." Her big green eyes were looking right into his, and this time it was Wolf who drove the passion, taking her mouth in a fiery kiss, his hands threading into her hair as he pushed his hips into hers, feeling her legs spread wide for him as he searched out her entrance, groaning when he slid home.
She clung to him, gasping in his ear, her fingers digging into his shoulders as he thrust deep. He felt almost overwhelmed by the touch of her skin, the smell of her hair, the way this smart, beautiful, amazing woman felt in his arms, and for a second he couldn't quite believe how lucky he was.
"Wolf…" She moaned, arching against him, and he found her clit with his thumb, his fingers gripping her hips as he felt her tighten around him, his gaze focussed on her face, the flush spreading across her freckled cheekbones as she tipped her head back and cried out.
He could only manage a groan in response as he pressed his face into her neck and let go, staying there and tasting the salt on her skin as his hips gradually came to stillness and her fingers slipped from his back.
He finally raised his head, his arms wrapping around her to keep her close as he rolled onto his side, his lips seeking hers for a slow, soft kiss.
"Let's get married tomorrow." He murmured, his lips still touching hers, "Let's just do it."
"You want to get married on Independence Day?" Her mouth quirked into a grin, "Isn't that kind of ironic?"
He grinned back, but pressed on, "There's the garden party at HQ in the afternoon. If we get married in the morning, we can make that the reception."
She giggled, "Thrifty, I like it."
"I like you." He countered. "Love you, in fact."
"Why Mister Wolf," She fluttered her eyelashes, "I do declare!"
And the sound of their laughter floated through the open window and out into the night sky, as Wolf Taylor and Hope Riley planned their future, together.
THE END
Wolf and Riley will return in 'Independence Day', coming in or around July 4th…